An artist’s rendering shows what the front of the new Metropolis City Pool bathhouse will look like. The $778,000 building, which will include a concession area, an office area, first aid and separate dressing areas for men and women, is being funded in part by a grant from the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program. Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of the 2014 pool season.
— Photo submitted

Thanks to weather and design changes, construction to the Metropolis City Pool bathhouse will have to wait until the 2014 season is over.

In a 6-1 vote Monday night, the Metropolis City Council voted to 1) award the base bid to Everett & Strong Construction Co. Inc. for $788,000 and to reject alternate bids 1 and 2 and that 2) the award be contingent on the contractor’s acceptance and execution of a modified scope and price — a $71,800 reduction — in the form of a change order as recommended by HMG Engineers to be executed at the same time as the agreement. Alderman Richard Corzine was the nay vote.

Prior to the vote, Alderman Bill Carrell was appointed as mayor pro-tem for the meeting. Mayor Billy McDaniel and city attorney Rick Abell were absent as they were in Washington, D.C. on Illinois Municipal Electric Agency business. Alderman Kim Brown was also absent from the meeting.

In May 2013, Parks & Recreation director Pris Abell announced to the council that the city had received a $331,000 grant to construct a new bathhouse at the 50-year-old pool on East Fourth Street. The funding is through the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program, which is part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s agenda to ensure that no child is left inside. The initiative is designed to expand outdoor recreation and open space in communities throughout Illinois. The city’s is one of 45 projects across the state receiving OSLAD funding.

The new bathhouse will include a concession area, an office area, first aid and separate dressing areas for men and women. The construction cost for the new bathhouse will be paid in full by the city with the grant reimbursing $331,000. The City of Metropolis will be responsible for $457,000 of the total cost.

Construction will start after pool season is over, giving the company more time to complete the project.

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